July 17, 2024 | Issue 139 (View newsletter as webpage) Para leer este boletín en Español, haga clic aquí

Important News

Gov. Murphy Names July Disability Pride Month in New Jersey

Gov. Phil Murphy has declared July Disability Pride Month in NJ, calling for more awareness of the contributions made by New Jersey’s 1.85 million residents with disabilities.

He states, “People with disabilities are vital members of their communities and residents of our great state,” Murphy said in a June 27 proclamation, adding, “Through the advocacy work of people with disabilities, all residents gain greater understanding and acceptance of disabled peoples' capabilities and contributions.”

To read more about his proclamation, including what advocates and officials had to say, click here.

Highlights on NJ State FY2025 Budget Spending on Children and Families

The State Fiscal Year 2025 Budget was approved by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Murphy before the June 30th deadline. The state budget, outlined in S2025-A4700, appropriates $56.6 billion in state funds and $27.5 billion in federal funds for resources, programs and services that will benefit New Jersey residents for the next fiscal year.

According to Advocates for Children of New Jersey, who were engaged in the budget process, it includes numerous investments that benefit children and families in the areas of:

Child Care
Public Preschool Expansion
K-12 Education
Child Tax Credit
Hunger and Food Insecurity
Maternal and Child Health
Mental Health
Positive Youth Development and Other Supports

To read about these budget items in more detail, click here.

Resources

July Is BIPOC Mental Health Month - Download the BIPOC Mental Health Toolkit

Culture, ethnicity, and race all play a large role in the way that each person experiences the world and in the types of mental health support they may need.

Mental Health America's (MHA) 2024 BIPOC Mental Health Toolkit provides free, practical resources to help navigate mental health stigma, bridge generational differences, dismantle mental health myths, and encourage meaningful conversations.

To access the toolkit, click here.

Reporting Provider Fraud and Abuse

If you suspect your provider is engaging in fraudulent activity around payments or service delivery, you can easily report details of this activity.

All written reports should be emailed to csoc.director@dcf.nj.gov

or mailed to the following address:

The New Jersey Department of Children and Families

Children’s System of Care

Office of the Assistant Commissioner

50 E. State St., 3rd Floor

Trenton, NJ 08625

Examples of fraud and abuse include:

Agreeing to provide a service before it has been authorized by PerformCare.
Asking you to sign off on participating in services or visits that have not yet occurred.
Offering you gifts or money to receive treatment or services.

For more information, click here.

Civil Rights Principles for Multilingual Learner Education

The Civil Rights Principles for Multilingual Learner Education outlines how decision-makers at all levels can create an equitable education system. This system should provide meaningful equal opportunities and success for all children, including those whose first language is not English.

Access the Principles, created by The Leadership Conference Education Fund, by clicking here

Upcoming Events

SPAN offers a variety of learning opportunities for families and the professionals who work with them.

Highlighted Event This Week

Summer 2024 Special Education Parent Leader Roundtable

Sun, Sand and SEPAG: Recharge and Refresh Your Group for the New School Year

Join fellow parent leaders, caregivers, district staff, and community members for an interactive brainstorming session to help create an action plan for your Special Education Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG).